A transmission and distribution utility shall conduct testing of its metering and billing systems in accordance with rules adopted by the commission. [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
1. System accuracy; rulemaking. The commission shall amend or adopt rules governing the testing of the metering and billing systems of transmission and distribution utilities to ensure accuracy regarding the measurement of the usage of electricity and the determination of customer bills. Rules adopted by the commission must include but are not limited to requirements for the following:
A. The frequency of testing of the metering and billing systems; [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
B. The method by which the transmission and distribution utility shall conduct testing of its metering and billing system; and [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
C. The statistical analysis to be used as part of the testing procedures. [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
The commission may adopt alternative testing procedures based on different metering or billing system technologies, such as for analog meters and digital meters.

[PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 3104-A

  • Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
  • Customer: includes any person, government or governmental division which has applied for, been accepted and is currently receiving service from a public utility. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
  • Transmission and distribution utility: means a person, its lessees, trustees or receivers or trustees appointed by a court, owning, controlling, operating or managing a transmission and distribution plant for compensation within the State, except where the electricity is distributed by the entity that generates the electricity through private property alone solely for the use of:
2. Metering and billing system audits. In adopting rules pursuant to this section, the commission shall consider and may require periodic, independent audits of the metering and billing systems and the commission may determine that such audits are applicable to only residential and small commercial customers of an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility. If the commission requires periodic, independent audits of the metering and billing systems of an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility, the rules must contain at a minimum the following provisions:
A. The method by which the commission will choose an independent auditor; [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
B. The allocation of costs of a periodic metering and billing systems audit; and [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
C. The statistical analysis to be used in an audit. [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]

[PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]

Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A. [PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY

PL 2017, c. 448, §2 (NEW).